top ten; fall trends

song of the day: haven't met you yet, michael buble

happy september! i don't know about you, but it's a part of my fashion philosophy to splurge on a wardrobe full of essentials and then pepper it with seasonal items i'll buy on the cheap. here are trends i plan to endorse this season. then check out my picks on shopstyle! most of them are >$50.

1. band jackets. if i hadn't bought a fall coat last year, i'd totally be cashing in for one of these right now. i LOVE this look. i can't stress it enough. it would be awesome if i could find a real vintage marching band jacket somewhere. fingers crossed! motorcyle and military jackets are also in for the fall.

2. leather. it's easy to wear this trend anywhere. motorcycle jackets are also popular. and there's no better way to master girly grunge, glam than with a leather mini.

3. full minis. this season's skirts are all about interesting full shapes and patterns. look for skirts that incorporate ruffles or zips. and pair them with paired with black tights to finish off the look.

4. something plaid. i've already gurgled on about plaid. it's one of those fall fashion staples that just keeps on coming. look for plaid oversive shirts and tunics.

5. destroyed denim. bleached, shredded and distressed jeans are all in for fall. try pairing it with a cardigan for an interesting contrast.

6. plum lips. this is another fall staple. try adding a plum lip colour to your regular fall makeup look.

7. leggings. yep, they're STILL here. and i'm thinking i'm nearly ready to venture out of my plain black cotton ones. they are popular with sequins, in lace, with patterns. but the same rules apply. denim-look leggings (i've heard them called "jeggings" but can't bring myself to use the term) are also popular.

8. over-the-knee boots. make sure the pair you pick fit close to your leg at the top. gapes are a no-no. other popular footwear: (peep toe) ankle booties,

9. animal prints. you can use them as a neutral to anchor your look. they also look cute as accesories.

10. cuff bracelets. when it comes to jewelry this fall, bigger is better. from the looks of things, bangles and statement/bib necklaces are also fall essentials.



i posted this o'er the weekend, but don't forget to check out pantone's choices for fall colours! did i miss anything? what trends are you loving this fall?

-B.

top ten; summer soundtrack

taking a style break and just sharing the songs that have meant the most to me this summer.

1. You Are Mine, Charlotte O'Connor.
2. Catch Me, Demi Lovato.
3. Desert Song, Hillsongs.
4. Fallin' for You, Colbie Callait.
5. Mansard Roof, Vampire Weekend.
6. I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas
(I heard it everyhwere and STILL didn't get sick of it. Amazing!)
7. World War III, Jonas Brothers
8. You Are For Me, Kari Jobe
9. If It Kills Me, Jason Mraz
10. You Belong With Me, Taylor Swift.

you make my dreams come true?
phew! that was hard to cram into just ten!
so for you, what songs'll mark the summer of '09?

top ten; august/september movies

i cannot lie. these type posts are among my favourite. movies are big to me. i'm one of those people that loves to be there on opening night, jostling elbows for seats and holding places in line. getting their early, and giving your flats enough time to really adhere to the soda-sticky floor. but then again, i'm kinda weird. hahaha. money permitting, here's what i'll be lining up for in the next two months in order of my most anticipated.

august.

» gi joe (august 7)
the 10-year old boy inside me can not WAIT for this movie. and the 19-year old girl inside of me really likes channing tatum. it's win win really. in my mind, i kind of hope it lives up to the grander of tranformers the first.

» bandslam (august 14)
it's about a group of misfits who band together (literally) to compete in their school's battle of the bands. before the v-hudge factor had me boycotting this one, but the trailers won me over. i'm a sucker for your textbook awkward geek hero.

» paper heart (limited release, august 14)
i love charlyne yi! she's so cute and so funny. in the film, she travels the country to make a documentary about love.

» julie and julia (august 7)
one things for sure this movie will make me REALLY hungry. i love amy adams, and meryl streep and eating, so this movie's pretty much a done deal for me. it looks so cute!


september.

» cloudy with a chance of meatballs. (september 18)
this movie would sway me over on voice cast alone. bill hader, andy samberg, neil patrick harris, anna faris AND mr. t! not to mention, it was one of my favourite books when i was a kid. i'm excited =)


» fame (september 25)
if you know me, you know i'm a sucker for a good musical. remakes make me a little iffy, but so far i've only heard good things about the new cast. i'm really excited to see the movie.



» the invention of lying. (september 25)
ricky gervais is all over this film. he wrote, directed and stars in this movie about a world that has never heard of lying. gervais's character, a writer, takes advantage of the situation. the trailer for it looks so funny! it also stars jason bateman, tina fey and a whole bunch of other comedians i love. so i'm excited for this one too.

» surrogates (september 25)
when i first saw the trailer in the movie theatre i remember being extremely creeped out. but it's one of those movies that's actually been playing on my mind. it's got me so curious i actually think i might brave it and go see it. the story takes place in a futuristic world where people interact through robots (the surrogates) but when the people behind the surrogates begin being murdered, a cop (bruce willis!) has to leave his home and investigate. looks creepy but good!

» the september issue (september 11)
tons of fashion websites and blogs alike are all aflutter about this documentary about how anna wintor (vogue's editor-in-chief) puts together one of the biggest issue of the magazine. the hype has me intrigued.

» coco before chanel (september 25)
and from those sames blogs and sites, i've heard alot about this biopic about coco chanel. audrey tatou has the title role and she is TOO cute. i'll probs check this one out.

haha. as usual, my movie taste is ALL over the place. what what about you? what are you most excited for?

-xoxo.

top ten; free things to do with friends

morning! i'm chilling today at my friend R's house and taking a spare moment to blog. i only just realized my recent commitment to spend less is going to affect everything. usually when people call me to hang out i go first and think later. i've the same approach to spending. so i've come up with ten really cool and free ways to spend time with the people you love!

1. group spa day. not gonna lie, this is probably my favourite idea out of all of them. you get all your friends together and bring all your nail polish and then swap 'em around. everybody can get a new colour and a free manicure! and of course, don't forget a good massage circle.

2. go on a wandering walk. head out with your group of friends with no particular direction. there's this one area of town that i've always wanted to just explore. go places you've never been before. i hope i can get around to doing it this summer.

3. check community calendar. it often has events or special deals. you might be surprised at the free things available in your area. maybe there's theatre or a concert in the park, ribfests or a free swimming hour.

4. have a DIY faceoff. if you're ever feeling crafty, gather all the stuff between your friends, share it around, fire up the glue gun and have an all day challenge to see who can come up with the best project. the most wearable project wins!

5. retro games day. me and my sister sometimes go into the back of the closet and pull out all the games we used to play. monopoly jr, and twister. don't forget old card games, if you're into them. and of course, there's no greater childhood pastime than blowing bubbles!

6. full on games day! i can't say i'm all that athletic but even i don't mind a day of playing some football. especially since it's free! frisbee and soccer are also fun.

7. picnic. there's nothing more fun than doing a picnic potluck. have everyone bring something and head to a free park. and if it's raining, as it has been where i live, spread out a blanket in the middle of the living room. indoor picnics can be fun too.

8. swap parties. this is the ultimate free fun event. reveryne commits to bringing either old CDs, DVDs, books or clothes and everyone swaps up and goes home with someone new.

9. start a new hobby. grab a friend and do that thing you've always wanted to do. start yoga, learn japanese. but don't think you'll have to spend tons of money to do it. your local library has tons of resources for free.

10. go stargazing! i hope to do this at some point this summer too. don't forget to pack blankets and bugspray.

i'm sure there's tons more you can come up with. you don't need to spend crazy amounts of money to have a good time. it's not so much about what you do with your time, but who you spend it with. that's all for me! see you later!

-lovelovelove.

top ten; shopping rules

(song of the day: one of the boys, katy perry)

today is an exciting day. i'm finally presenting an article i've been working on for a while. and I seriously am going to print them out and keep them in my wallet. preferably wrapped around my wallet. these are the ten rules I consider (or aim to consider) before any purchase.

1. first rule, never buy something on sale that you wouldn't but full price.
i buy a LOT but i rarely buy things at full price. that said, i still get swayed by sale prices. i'm twice as likely to buy a simply because it's got a sale price attached. i have a whole collection of things back in that section of my closet i nicknamed "the graveyard."

2. any purchase of more than $100 must be slept on.
i borrowed this rule from glamour. $100 is still a bit much. i might pick a smaller number. maybe $50. often, i go into a store and think i've find something i can't live without...in EVERY store. if i see something i think i can't live without. i should take 24 hours to chill out and re-evaluate how i really feel in the morning. if i can't curb my craving i'll go back and get it. if it's still there, it's meant to be.

3. don't buy anything that requires you to buy something else.
this occurred to me. if you need a new camisole/belt to go with your new skirt, it's not much of a bargain. and unless we're talking formal wear, you don't really wanna buy anything that requires too much tailoring.

4. don't by anything that doesn't fit.
i truly think that makes anything look good is when clothes fit you well. i get swayed by sale prices and end up with a collection of sloppy looking shirts, that "will fit as long as i pin them" or "i might grow into." at 19, i don't really think i'll be doing much growing. and my sewing skills aren't getting any thing better either. if the last item isn't in your size, it's not really meant to be, now is it.

5. ALWAYS try things on. for a long time, in my shopping hayday, i didn't try a single thing. claiming that i was in too much of a rush. but if you're in a rush, you're usually too busy to make good wardrobe decisions. and also...

6. only buy the things that make you dance in the chnge room.
this is another one i read on glamour a few months ago, but it's really helped me lately. when you try on a shirt/dress/pair of pants, and you do that little wiggle in the change room because you know it looks that good, that's the item you wanna buy. i can't count the number of times i've bought a trendy item that no doubt looks good, but does nothing for me. it's the items that make me dance around that i end up getting the most out of.

7. if something comes in, something comes out. i've always like the idea of this rule in theory, not so much in practice. the next time you want to initiate another item into your closet, ask yourself if you'd be willing to part with another item to get it. and then you're supposed to actually do it! it would definitely keep your closet from becoming overwhelmed. but you know how much trouble i have throwing things away.

8. consider cost per wear.
this is always a good thing to keep in mind when you're purchasing everyday wear. divide the price of the item by the number of times you think you'll wear it. i think it's best to spend money of things like bras, shoes, watches and handbags. timeless items that will increase your style quotient no matter what. plus for these type items that you wear everyday, the cost per wear will basically be nothing!

9. pay with cash.
this one's a lot easier said than done because i almost never have cash on me. but swiping my visa/debit is a lot easier. but at the same time you don't even notice how much you're spending. and sometimes i like that, but lately it's been getting me in to trouble. lastly...

10. don't go it alone.
i'm not gonna lie, i kind of need a shopping babysitter, more than anything. but it might not be a bad idea to shop with a buddy. an honest one, who can tell you what looks good and what doesn't, what you should spend money on and what you shouldn't. my friend R and my sister K are really good at this. don't forget to return the favour!!

i've actually got enough to make two posts on this. maybe i'll come back to it! and hopefully one day i'll be able to add "reformed shopoholic" to my profile. haha. what things do you take into consideration before you buy something?

top ten; ideas for cutting costs on wedding gifts

(song of the day: if you only knew, savannah outen)

i'm not a wedding expert by any means. that's why i'm writing these! but i remember i had a particularly unfortunate experience last year. i shelled out $50 for a bridal shower present and then it turned out i wasn't even invited to the wedding. NOT a pleasant experience. i had forgotten back then that it's not so much what you spend as to what you get that matters. the price tag isn't the bottom line, you should find/buy/make something the couple will appreciate. now that times are tough people are evening more understanding. hopefully these gift ideas will keep everyone happy!

it's important to set a budget (1) more and more i'm trying to at least find a goal amount that i want to spend. it makes me more careful when i'm about to go over. and of course, it makes me more careful of the item i pick up. i'm perfectly willing to go over my limit if it's a really good deal. i find that budgets put things in perspective.

i think gift registries are wonderful. it takes all the guesswork out of everything, but when you're a student, not everything on said list is attainable. i think it's okay to purchase a smaller ticket item and then personalize it with a really nice note (2) or something. people don't really write letters any more but they're amazing to receive. chock it full of memories, wishes or advice for the happy couple. or get a group of friends and pool together (3) to get something reaslly nice.but if you're going to d this, don't wait till the last minute.

you can find an item from the gift registry and try and find it cheaper elsewhere (4). this only works if it's the EXACT same item. but if they're registered at the bay and you can save yourself five dollars at wlamart, i don't see a problem with that! just don't forget to notifiy the store that they can cross the item off the list.

i totally suggest giving etsy a browse (5). you could find a one of a kind gifts that they'd love. you may even have something you could personalize. if you're crafty you may even want to try making something yourself. i'm not talking a plaster cast of your palm print. homemade gifts (6) can actually be really nice. the key is to keep them personalized. go with names, or inside jokes,or something special with a memory attached. and keep the couples interests at heart first and formemost. if they're not really into cross stitching, it's not going to be much of a gift.

and if you've got skills of other sorts, you could always offer them (7) as a gift. if you're good with video, you can offer to edit all of the wedding footage taken into a nice dvd for the couple, cause services charge a lot for that. if you're musically inclined ask if the couple would like some free entertainment for the reception. if you're a whiz in the cosmetology department offer to do hair or makeup for the bridal party. maybe you can paint some original artwork for their new home.

some other kind of frual but still v. cool ideas (8): packaging up the perfect movie night (popcorn and video rental coupon included), framing their wedding invitations, putting together a cookbook of foolproof recipes, any kind of scrapbook is lovely really. and then, magazine subscriptions are gifts that keep on giving.

if you're tapped out for ideas, i've never heard of a couple that's complained about getting cash or gift cards (9). they're definitely easier to pack with you! and i think it's perfectly legit to use gift cards you've gotten (10) to buy someone something else. i'm not opposed to using coupons or store credit either.

one last thing: avoid regifting at all costs. if you didn't use it want it, why would anyone else?

anyway, that's it for me, i've got worship practice and some shopping to do!

-lovelovelove.

top ten; june/july movies

it's that time again! i LIVE for summer movies. truly, last summer i average about two a week =P i'm not planning on doing that this year, but here are the top ten movies i can not live without!

june.
1 ►transformers: revenge of the fallen (june 26)
i have NEVER been more excited for a sequel! evertime i see the trailer i squeal a bit no lie. but i'm super nervous cause, it never really looks like they're even coming close to winning in any of the commercials! the tone of it is just so... sad. that just means i'm going to be super tense the whole movie. should be a good one!

2 ► land of the lost (june 5)
will ferrel is my weakness. i stayed up late to watching conan last night and he was on it promoting it and it only got me more excited. and that whole "matt lauer can suck it" comment gets me laughing every time.

3 ►the taking of pelham 123 (june 12)
john travolta's character tkaes a NYC subway train hostage and demands that the train operater (denzel washington) act as a negotiator for his demands. this one has a good twist and i'm dying to figure out what it is! this one has mom and me written all over it =P

4 ► the proposal (june 19)
i can't say i'm the biggest chick flick fan, but i lovelovelove movies where they get forced together by lies and eventually find love! and i love anne fletcher (she also directed step up and 27 dresses) anyway, sandra bullock's character forces her to marry her so she can avoid deportation. they're totally gonna fall in love! calling it now. haha. plus ryan reynolds looks sooo attractive in this one. the whole wolverine thing was such a let down, so i need a fix.

5 ► away we go (limited release, june 5)
john krasinski and maya rudolf star as a couple trying to find a place to settle down and have their baby. it looks so funny and cute.

june still has some honorable mentions to cause i would LOVE to see year one (june 19). even though i havent's een a preview for that that really interests me, i can be swayed by starpower alone. the jack black michael cera combo is a one-two punch. and i really wanna see my sister's keeper (june 26) it's looks really beautiful and sweet. it's about a girl who looks to emancipate from her parents because they want to use her kidney to help her cancer-stricken sister. what a tough call! i am GUARANTEED to cry =P that and i just saw a commercial for the hangover (june 5) that actually made it look really funny! i wasn't so sure before, but i may have to go see it now.

july.
7 ►funny people (july 31)
here's this summer's contribution from the judd apatow camp, but it actually looks to be a little more serious than most and kind of sweet! more dramedy than crass comedy. i'm really excited to see it. adam sandler plays a comedian who's dying and takes a new comedian (skinny seth rogen) under his wing. leslie mann's in there too.

8 ►the ugly truth (july 24)
i'm a huge gerard butler fan, so this one's kind of a no brainer. gerard plays a professional womanizer who makes a bet to find a man for his love-challenged tv producer (heigl) or quit the business forever. ten bucks says the two of them get it on!

9 ► public enemies (july 1)
i'll admit i'm intrigued by this one by its actors alone. christian bale? johnny depp? channing tatum? and they're playing bop-it gangsters. that's all i need to know

10 ► 500 days of summer (limited release july 15)
this one looks really sweet too. i'm a huge zoey deschanel fan. it's about a greeting card writer who falls for a girl we works with (named summer) and chronicles 500 days of their relationship. if you have a second, check out the trailer.

10 ► some harry potter movie (july 15)
i'm not even sure which one it is. i've never seen a single harry potter movie. not necessarily by choice, just by chance. there are tons of people who've said that they're going to make me do a marathon and if that eventually takes place, i will go see it when it comes out! it does look pretty exciting.


i'm more excited for june movies to be honest. or do i just have weird movie tastes? which ones are you looking forward to? is it one a didn't mention? for more trailers, pics and info, check imdb.

that's all for now. i'm off to get my hair did.

top ten; mother's day ideas

(song of the day: you're still you, josh groban)

i love my mom. she gives great advice on pretty much everything. EXCEPT when it comes to what to get her for mother's day/christmas/birthdays etc. and it seems like she has EVERYTHING and she's extremely strange. (i mean, she'll balk at the notebook, but war of the worlds can make her cry) she's not exactly the easiest to buy for. i've been wracking my brain for a while now. this top ten's a mishmash, some ideas and some websites with MORE ideas. enjoy.

1 ♥ there's nothing my mom likes more than a night off of the kitchen and a dinner at her favourite restaurant. word of warning now, if you're thinking about taking your mom out at anytime in the next weekend, book your reservations asap!

2 ♥ glamour composed a gift guide for this year. i think their gifts are a little off the wall though. anyone else find them kinda quirky? but i mean sometimes quirky is good.

3 ♥ my mom's NOT a spa person. she hates being touched. but she does like to treat herself once in a while. there are a lot of places that have put together pedicure/manicure sets at special mother's day prices! i might be picking one of those up come sunday

4 ♥ style bakery put together a snazzy mother's day gift guide as well. check out parts one and two.

5 ♥ you can'r really go wrong with stuff that smells good. it's like a weakness of women everwhere. whether they're flowers, candles, fancy body wash, chic perfume, or even her favourite coffee. it's a guaranteed mom favourite!

6 ♥ photos! there are a number of photos around my house that need to be updated. there's a picture frame hanging in our stairway that's at least twenty years old. my fifteen year old sister isn't even featured. so her and i were thinking about updating that one. if we fill the multi-photo fram with pictures, it's almost like a handmade gift. see if you can find a cool digital picture frame! there are some even in keychain form. so you can be with her always.

7 ♥ gifts.com actually has a pretty cool feature where you can shop gift ideas based on personality. i'm thinking my mom's "the achiever" what's yours?

8 ♥ i've done this before. i've raided her makeup cupboard, bathroom counter and bought all the stuff she was running out of. i placed it all in one of those fancy baskets with the plastic wrap and she really liked it! can't go wrong when you KNOW you're getting stuff she already likes.

9 ♥ books! i think books are a great gift. and the viewers polled at the women's network agree. stick with what she's interested in: mystery novels, fashion mags, or maybe even crosswords. the most important additional item to this gift? TIME to read it. let her relax, she'll be grateful.

10 ♥ do not forget a sappy card! or letter, or maybe just a REALLY big hug. it's important to use your own words. even if you love your mom, never forget to tell her!

my only caution for mother's day shopping? don't get her anything that reminds her off housework, or anything like that. i remember a few years ago, my sister and i got her a garbage can. yes, a garbage can. in our defense she HAD been saying we needed a new one and we DID stuff it with a really nice bouquet of flowers, but i really wouldn't say it's her best gift. try and come up with something just for her! and also, you might wanna try and give a gift that actually means you can spend time with her. moms love that. haha. okay. that's all for me! later my lovelies!

-xoxoxo.

(thanks to nichbri for the photo)

top ten; funny men

(song of the day: you give me something, james morrison)

did it rain where you were? it did a little bit today. i could've let it ruin my day (my hair, AND a perfectly good outfit,) but i did not! must have looked pretty weird actually. i was siting on the bus and then i started thinking about the office and had to try and hide my hysteric laughter. so today i'm sharing my top ten funny men!

10. seth rogen.

i LOVE his ridiculous laugh. cracks me up every time. he's sooo funny! and he's gotten so slim now. which doesn't necessarily make him funnier, but it will make his movies more fun to watch! heehee.

9. will arnett

i should preface this by saying i'm MOSTLY in love with his character on arrested development. but i suppose that show was the launching bored for my affection for will arnett! he's canadian too. which is pretty cool to me. to this day the strains of the final count down crack me up everyime. i can NOT wait for the arrested development movie!

8. michael cera

another arrested development hottie. i don't mind that he basically plays himself in each movie, he's HILARIOUS. and so awkward! and cute! (i was 2 meters-ish from him once! squee!)

7. hugh laurie

house is hilarious, but hugh is too. i love that self-depreciating british humour. and he's also a way talented writer and an amazing pianist. i like!

6. jack black.

i LOVE jack black, and not for the reason you're thinking =P he's so funny! school of rock was awesome, and so was tropic thunder! i'm not sure if i like his kid or adult comedies better. and he wasn't particuarily funny, but how AWESOME was he in the holiday! makes me cry every time.

5. seth mcfarlene

i can't lie. as offensive as it is, i find family guy HILARIOUS. i love random. and seth mcfarlene. it's the voices that get me. (i used to want to be a voice actress!) brian's my favourite. gotta love the straight man. errrrrr dog. but i have to say, i tend to bug my sister based on what i see stewie do. over.

4. will ferrel

ha-larious. couldn't pick a favourite movie if i tried! okay. maybe kicking in screaming. or anchorman. or step-brothers. no.... see? couldn't choose. i love when he makes cameos in other people's movies too. he's quoted as saying: "there's just something about yelling that's funny to me." and i absolutely agreee.

3. the boys of the office.

from best to least: b.j. novak, rainn wilson, steve carrel and john krasinski. at first i realize i didn't want to group them together, but then if i didn't, they took over half the list. no one else could make awkward so fun! or that many "that's what she said" jokes. and i'll admit, they're my favourite =P

2. seth meyers.

(there are a lot fo funny seths no?) meyers has been the headwriter on SNL for a few years now. the weekend update is usually my favourite part of the show. i'd also like to give honourable mention to my other SNL favourites: jason sudeikis, bill hader and andy samberg. plus he's SO cute, don't you think?

1. conan o'brien.

i once heard him described as "the orange-haired michael jordan of comedy." and i completely agree! he's my absolute favourite. it doesn't matter if i've been running all day. i will stay up late at night to watch his monologues. i miss them so much. but apparently he starts up the late show june 1. just two more months to go! check out this website where he finds a joke to insult EVERY country. funny list. trust.

there are so many more! it doesn't take much to make me laugh. heehee. this was a fun list. i realized two things. a) i think EVERYONE on this list is attractive and b) i don't think women are as funny as men are. i know that's bad to say but would you agree? who're the top 10 people who makes you laugh?

-lovelovelove.

top ten; spring shoes

(song of the day: beautiful soul, jesse mccartney)

i'm not sure why, but when i woke up, i knew it was a jesse mccartney day. haha. so HOW depressing was it to have snow on the ground today! i was SO ready to banish my boots to the back of the closet (and don't even get me started on my winter coat). i've got to rush this one cause it's getting late and i've still got homework to do. and forgive me for not spelling out of pure pigritude (two points!) that and there was a new episode of fringe. (eeee ^^) anyway, today i'm showcasing ten hot trends for spring shoes. (that of course... we'll have to wait until the sun is out to buy.) in any case...


1. Bold Colours.
This is a big trend for all of spring fashion and there's no better way to showcase it than with your shoes. Not surprsingly, i picked some of my favourite colours for this one. I have a crazy crush on coral. I keep buying EVERYTHING in coral. And if I can find these shoes at Payless (American Eagle, $20) i'll totally buy them too. And i'm loving these bright pink barbie shoes from Town Shoes, even though i'll never get 'em cause they retail somewhere in the vicinity of $130.

2. Fringe/Boho.
Fringe is cute on boots and sandals too! Unleashing your inner hippie with boho inspired shoes. Minnetonka Boots, $55 at Piperlime.com. Boho sandals, Town Shoes, $99.95.

3. Gladiators.
Whether you love them or hate them, they're back again this season. To make them more wearable, don't go for the type that wrap all the way up the knee. A flat pair looks good with both dresses and shorts. Gladiator inspired heels are another cool alternative. Flat Sandal: Matt Berson Gladiator, Piperlime, $170. Heel: Payless, $24.99

4. "Green" Shoes
Going green has never been cooler! Look out for shoes like this one from Keds that uses recycled materials. Keds, $55.

5. Metallics.
The metallicstrend has returned again for this summer. They're easy to incorporate into your wardrobe. Just do flats! (Sterling Shoes, Jessica Simpson, $99). Try 'em out in gold, silver, copper or bronze. I'm drooling over those sandals with the ankle cuff. (Sterling again, $80)

Click continue reading to see the rest of the shoes!


6. Tribal/Exotic/Ethnic.
Tribal-inspired shoes go really well with warm colours. The reptile ones are from sterling shoes ($45) and the flip flops are from American Eagle ($30).

7. Neutrals.
Thank goodness they're in. They go with everything and they can make your legs look longer. To be honest though, I'm not sure if it really works for brown legs. Like, am I supposed to wear deep brown shoes? I can't tell! I'll have to try on a pair and let you know! Both of these are really cute, at any rate. Aren't the ones on the left cool! (Piperlime, $50). And check out the ones from payless, a little bit of a gladiator influence, no? Retails for $30.

8. Caged/Cutouts.
This season, the more straps the better! I like this trend. They'll never fall of your foot! =) (My number one sandal gripe.) Black Sandal: Town Shoes, $125. Brown caged shoes, Piperlime, $188.

9. Studded/Embellished.
Definitely on the edgier side of the spectrum. But they help toughen up really sweet looks as well. Bianca Studded Sandal, Delia's, $39.50

10. Canvas Shoes/Plimsolls
Now i never actually read this one anywhere, but i've certainly seen a lot of people on campus wearing them. And they're so cute! And cheap. I've featured two from Keds that retail for $35. But H&M has some really cute pairs for about $15! If i'm going to by any shoe this season this is FOR SURE going to be it.

i'm sorry that a lot of this was so rambly! i'll come back and fix it i promise! and i'm well aware these aren't realistic prices. i mostly just needed pictures of the shoes i was talking about. and now that i know what i'm looking for, i'll scour the malls to find you hot shoes at awesome prices! alright. i've got some homework to do. later my lovelies!

-lovelovelove

top ten; things i'd tell my former self

original post date: april 2, 2009

to myself at 17: let him get mad. just do this for you. enjoy today while it's lasts cause it won't.

to myself in grade four: don't forge mom's signature you douche!

to myself at age 14: you'd save yourself years of heartache, frustration, bitterness and one best friend if you move away right now. please do it. get up. move seats. don't talk to her. don't intrdouce her to any of your friends. do not pass go. do not collect $200. just run.

to myself at age 17: listen to your heart. i mean really listen. don't let anyone talk you into anything you don't wanna do. speak up for yourself and do what you want. it's your life, just live it!

to myself at age 16: don't sell yourself short in terms of smarts. you're not an idiot and sometime it's not bad to let it show. raising your hand in class really won't kill you, i mean, if you did it then, maybe i'd do it more now.

to myself in august of 2005: for the love of god HOLD IN THAT FART

to myself at ages 13, 16 and 17; ask him to dance, you've really got nothing to lose

to myself at age 12: lower the cookie from your lips. see the light and realize two happy meals a week is NOT normal behaviour. would you have a look around you? put down the bag of chips and head to the mall... or the gym.

to myself at age 16: this is the last time you'll ever really see her. say something insightful.

to myself, anytime i doubted: you did good.


these aren't the top ten, but they are the first ten i could think of. just imagine how different life would be you could back and change it. and i know i know, you're supposed to learn from your place, but i really think that it would be better not to have made them in the first place.

but there you have it! a double post! enjoy!

-lovelovelove.

top ten; tips for surviving sprinter

original post date: march 25, 2009
(song of the day: waiting, the rocket summer)

so right now i'm hating that the calendar says spring time and the weather has decided not to co-operate. we're in that awkward still kind of winter and not quite spring phase. sprinter, if you will. and i hate it. i'm always either too hot or too cold. every morning, i leave my big winter peacoat at home, make it halfway down the driveway ebfore rushing back in to put it on again. it's such a pain to lug around! i'm ready to burn that thing now! i was going to do a feature on shoes, but at the last minute decided to research the best ways to dress in this awkward transitional period.

un: layering. This is one of the simplest tips as I still somehow manage to over look it. layering is one of the few fashion trends that evolved out of pure practicality and i never make use of it. early spring is tricky because there are chilly mornings, but beautiful afternoons. but layering allows you to take off whatever you don't need, and when it gets chilly again, you can put it back on again. try a t-shirt, cami and cardigan. try putting camis under or maybe even over your tees, the options are endless when you come to think of it.

deux :cardigans and blazers are versatile pieces that can work with anything spring has to bring. they look great with tanks, tees, tops and dresses! i highly suggest you invest in one if you haven't already. plus it's easy enough to take them on when the weather warms up. blazers add structure, and balance out sheer, flowy tops.quick tip for cardigans, try belting them at your natural waist.

trois: bright accessories. don't abandon winter neautrals so soon! ease your way into one of the springs biggest trends with pops of bright accesories. you might not want to start my jumping in to the neon side of the spectrum, maybe try sherbert colours. the trick is to let your colours warm up with the weather. so try working just one or two bright colour in at a time. accessories are the easiest way to do this because they come in such great colours! ooh! we can all take a lesson from my friend linda! even when she's rocking darker outfits, she's got this yellow bag that just pulls her whole outfit together. ah-mazing!

quatre: bright nails. this is kind of a continuation of the former. but i like this idea so much i decided to give it it's own number. it's easy to wear brights. i know me and kristen are on the lookout for yellow polish, let me know if you find a nice one! i'm about to paint mine pastel purple. i'd also love to rock a mint green. i bought this BRIGHT coral polish but i'm still waiting a while to wear it out. more after the jump!



cinq: scarves. these accesories also get their own category. i think they're an inexpensive but really effective way to transition! but i'm kinda biased, i might be their biggest fan. trade in thick knit/wool scarves for lighter ones. but of course, you can always drape a thicker one around your shoulders over a nice tank. don't forget to upgrade to warmer colours as well!

six: statement jewellery. one last accesory, i swear. big, chunky necklaces are in this spring. and wearing a nice bright one brightens up any outfit! this actually worked for me today. i woke up late (accidentally set my alarm for 6pm instead of 6am. oops!) i ran out of time to really get dressed. so i grabbed this grey long sleeve tee, skinny jeans and tall black boots, but it just looked so blah! sooooo i put on this big beaded green necklace. random? most definitely. but i was actually really happy with how it turned out.

sept: cuffed jeans. (okay. i'm having extreme deja vu. i kinda make a lot of lists, have you noticed? i'm going to list these in french instead, to make you think it's something different, pahaha) roll up the last two inches of your straight/skinny jeans. tadah! you'll look more spring-ish without really having to sacrifice any warmth. best of all? it's free.

huit: leggings/tights. tights are a great way to wear dresses and skirts until the weather finally warms up. i think they look really cute under shorts too! v. tokyo street style. you know who has really good pairs? joe fresh. yeah the ones from loblaws etc. santa put some stockings in my stocking this christmas (my mom thinks she's so funny) but they were really thick, came in some cool colours and haven't ripped after like a billion wears. best of all they were only $5.

neuf: flats. unlike kristen, most of us haven't made it back into our flipflops just yet. but i think flats are the best way to bridge the gap between colder and warmer days, and they make any outfit look great! but i'm sure i don't have to tell you that. haha. i'm easing back into my pairs little by little. to keep up with the trends, try them in bright colours, floral patterns, with cutouts or peep toes.

dix: leather jacket. this one i didn't read but rather saw. a lot! when i was out in the commons today. some people were wearing them like leather sweaters! haha. but seriously. they were wearing leather bombers with embellished/studded tanks, dark wash jeans and flats. it's edgy and cute. and luckily, my sister bought the leather jacket i "just had to have" last year, and now i have a way to actually wear it. hurray!

and that's it! good luck surviving sprinter! hopefully spring actually comes soon!

-lovelovelove!

top ten; people you don't want to sit next to on a bus

Original Post Date: March 18, 2009

happy wednesday! it occured to me, i spend a lot of time on busses. i was on my way to school and started draming up this list,

10. chatters. i like talking as much as the next person, just not to strangers. I hate the people who sit down beside you want want your life story. those people who seem to have no idea how to read body language, in fact i bet they've never heard of it. this category also includes those annoying people who WAIL away on their cell phones, with no idea they're broadcasting their conversation to the entire bus.

9. school groups. thank goodness this has only happened to me once, but it was awful. i was just sitting there minding my own business when this SWARM of children got on the bus. it was awful! they were screaming and yelling, climbing all over the seats, pointing and staring and giggling. they filled the entire bus so the driver didn't bother letting people on anymore. but when it was finally time to get off, i had to claw my way through them just to get to the door.

8.bratty kids. this is kind of a continuation of the previous. i'm not sure what i think about kids on the whole? sometimes they're super cute, sometimes they annoy me. but invariably, the kids i meet on the bus are always awful. but i don't take crap for them either. haha. this is awful, but there was one time when this chubby little asian kid kicked me right in the shin and laughed in my face. his mom just looked at me, testing to see if i was annoyed. i wasn't, but an apology would have been nice! so when the mom wasn't looking, i kicked him back. not hard of course! but he wasn't laughing anymore =P

7. bag ladies. they're annoying to sit with? but i can't bag on them too much, i've been there. carrying multiple bags on public transit is not easy, but i'd rather give up my seat than be crushed in by a thousand packages. just what are they carrying anyway? there's always some random box that jabs you in the leg, you know waht i'm talking about. and then there was the time the woman next to me had two ferrets in her duffel...yeah

6. whisperers. (i apologize for these titles being SO lame! i'm on a lot of medication right now) so i got the idea for this list today when i was sitting beside a woman who was reciting prayers. i can admit it, i get creeped out really easily. but i mean in the movies when someone's on a bus full of people, head down, whispering, it's never good. those are the kinds of people you want to avoid.

5. false positives. ever smile at a cute guy, have him come over only to realize he's not as hot as you thought? cause now you're stuck with him for the rest of the ride. or maybe he IS cute but he proceeds to take out his laptop and paly World of Warcroft? (this happened to me last week?) it's like "yay!" then "ew!" i once heard a story about a girl who was sitting next to a guy on a laptop (more on them later) and he opened and email, wrote about how he thought she looked cute and wanted to get to know her, then passed the laptop to her and asked her to write her email address in the "To:" box, a little bit creepy but so cute! I still think it's a one in a million thing. it's never convenient to meet/pick up people on the bus. all the cute boys you may see just give you false hope.

4. exhibitionists. nothing spells romance like the mississauga transity system! although this could be the bitter singleton in me speaking, i think PDA on a bus is its nastiest variety! now on to the top three people you don't want to be stuck sitting beside!

3. munchers. i'm surprised the MTS actually lets people eat on busses! i mean, i may have done it once or twice but i still find it gross to sit beside someone who's eating. somehow they always make the whole bus smells. the worst is getting crumbs on YOUR shirt from a meal you didn't eat! and i feel like munchers always leave something behind, a little something to remember them by, a wrapper here, a piece of lettuce here, a spill there.

2. stinkers. i don't need to tell you that BO is one of the worst smells out there. it's the worst when it's the middle of summer, and someone climbs into the seat with you with fumes strong enough to make wallpaper curl. and when they leave? it's THEIR sweat that's making the damp spot on your t-shirt. (this has happened to me, it's awesome) but it's not just BO, i find people on busses smell really random. i always seem to end up sitting with those guys who mistake their bar of soap for a whack of prosciutto. seriously, why do some guys smell like him? i've never met a girl with this problem. not that they're perfect either, i've sat beside my fair share of ladies who smelled less than daisy fresh. and number one....

1. sickies. sick people are the absolute WORST. i'm like a part-time germaphobe. i don't touch door handles, or the escalator railing when i'm in public. but i hate when people are sick and you feel like you can see the germs coming off them. the sneeze and cough and you can feel a thousand germs coming at you. and of course, they never stay in a corner by themselves, they cosy up beside you, spreading their germs to the masses. this is my grossest story. there was this frail old lady who was coughing up a storm as she got on the bus and sat down beside me. naturally i pressed myself up against the wall as close as i could get. she started chewing on this candy cane. and the next time she coughed? a piece of candy cane flew out and stuck to my cheek. grossest. day. ever. (though the real moral of this story is not to put hand sanitizer on your face, it's very painful)

so that's it. the top ten people i avoid on public transit. what about you? who do you look for when you're choosing a seat if all the single ones are taken? have any interesting bus stories? (post them in the comments section!)

boo, that was a lot lamer than i expected it to be, was still fun to write though! mm. i found something for the "best of" section this week and i'm SO excited for you to see it. and guess what? my mom let me drop french! i've never understood what people meant by having "a weight lifted." i'm starting a new class on tuesday and i'll let you know how it goes. i'm still waiting to see if i got into either of the communications studies programmes though, so keep your fingers crossed. i blew my hair out, it was good times, BUT i had no camera to document it! absolutely awful. has it been four weeks yet? i'll have to do it again some time. i got some new makeup today too. excited to try it on tomorrow. hope all is well with you!

-lovelovelove.

top ten; march/april movies

Original Post Date: March 2, 2009

happy march everyone! i am so ready for spring it's not even funny. i've been eyeing this pair of shorts from American Eagle and i'm not sure how long i can hold off buying them. i suppose one hindrance is that my bank account is practically zero. it's scary! and i didn't even go to the mall that much last month, it's all movie stuff. i'm not even sure how i managed to see SEVEN movies in theatres in the shortest month of the year! craaaazy. here are the films i'll be shelling out for in the next two months in order of their most exciting!

march.

1 ► Monsters vs. Aliens (March 27)

i'm not gonna lie the, main reason i'm excited for this one is mostly the voice talent. will arnett, rainn wilson, reese witherspoon, kiefer sutherland, hugh laurie, seth rogen, the list goes on. and on top of that it actually looks really funny! i'm not sure who i'll drag with me to see it quite yet, but i'm sure i'll find someone! =)

2 ► Duplicity (March 20)

i love this type of movie! julie roberts and clive owen star as corporate spies, with a seemingly romantic past, who team up to pull off one last big con. it looks to be part con movie, part romantic comedy. i'm excited!

3 ► I Love You, Man (March 20)

it's safe to admit the only reason i'll be seeing this one is because i'm absolutely in love with paul rudd. he stars as this guy who doesn't have a single guy friend so he goes on a series of man dates to try and find someone to be the best man at his wedding. andy sambergs in it too ♥

4 ► Watchmen (March 6)

i'm actually not too interested in this one. which is weird for me, cause i usually devour comic book movies of all types. but i don't know this time. even still, someone will probably want to see it with me, and i'll probably go along. haha.

5 ► Adventureland (March 27)

this movie has the potential to be really good, as long as kristen stewart doesn't wreck it, that is. jessie eisenberg stars as college grad who takes a summer job at a dinky amusement park. and it's made by the same guys who made superbad, and it looks just as funny but a little less crass, so i'll probably go see it.

UPDATE: i just read that adventureland got pushed back to april 3rd!

april.

6 ► 17 Again (April 17)

i haven't been this excited about a movie since... high school musical 3, admittedly >.< weeks ="P"> confession time! i absolutely loved the fast and the furious. the sequels didn't even compare. but i'll totally be in line for this one now that they've got the main cast together! i'm a closet vin diesel fan =P andddd the trailer for this one just looks absolutely amazing. like when they hijack that gasonline truck? not really sure what the plot of it will be, but we all know that's not really the point of it anyway.

9 ► Fighting (April 24)

i'm not such a fan of this one either, but i've an unspoken promise to see every movie channing tatum is in. especially this one, now that he's let his hair grow out. deeeelicious.

10 ► Observe and Report (April 10)

this is like a WAY less family version of paul blart: mall cop. it's about a bipolar mall security guard trying to hunt down a flasher. i'll see this because it stars seth rogen and i absolutely refuse to see the hannah montana or dragon ball z movies.

that's it for me! most of my summaries were borrowed from IMDb so be sure to check them all out there =) what movies are you most looking forward to?

ciao for now!
-lovelovelove

top ten; love songs

Orginal Post Date: February 11, 2009

i'm still all excited about valentine's day! (can you tell? =P)

1 ♥ Like the Sun-Ryan Dan.
can you believe these beautiful men used to be in B44? i still can't get over it. and I love this song. sometimes it makes me cry. best line: Whenever you're close to me, you're like sun.

2 ♥ Back At One - Brian McKnight.
i know this is kinda cliché, but it LOVE this song. it's so cute. totally playing it at my wedding!

3 ♥ Come What May - Moulin Rouge
no offence to pattie page, but the version of this song in the movie is epic. and so beautiful! i love when she's out on her balcony singing it. not gonna lie, i imitate the aforementioned move on my stairs all the time. in fact, as soon as i'm done here, i may go sing it right now! and I'm going to sneak Your Song in here as well, cause i could barely choose between them.

4 ♥ Happy Together - The Turtles.
imagine me and you; i do. enough said =P

5 ♥ I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles.
i don't know if you ever read Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. (read not seen, cause the scene i'm talking about was totally butchered in the movie.) but they had this to say about the song.
"'I Wanna Hold Your Hand.' First single. Freaking* brilliant. Perhaps the most freaking* brilliant song ever written. Because they nailed it. That's what everyone wants. Not 24/7 hot wet sex. Not a marriage that lasts a hundred years. Not a Porsche or a million-dollar crib. No. They wanna hold your hand. They have such a feeling that they can't hide. Every single successful song of the past fifty years can be traced back to 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand.' And every single successful love story has those unbearable and unbearably exciting moments of hand-holding. Trust me. I've thought a lot about this."
But you should really read it in context. It made me MORE in love with this song than I already was.

6 ♥ If You're Not the One - Daniel Bedingfield.
this song was playing when I danced with this guy i was "in love" with in junior high. so it always has special meaning. but it's seriously SO cute. another wedding contender. haha. best lines: "If I'm not made for you than why does my heart tell me that I am."
8
7 ♥ Only Hope - Switchfoot.
i've already proclaimed how much I hate A Walk To Remember, but I'm glad this song came out of it. and the switchfoot version of it is even better than the original one. this song always makes me smile. widely. =) best lines: "Sing to me the songs of the stars." / "I want your symphony, singing in all that I am."

8 ♥ You and I Both - Jason Mraz.
his voice is love. but this is one of my favourite songs by him (though again, it's hard to pick favourites. best lines: "You and I both love what you and I spoke of, what others only read of the love, the love that I love." I want a love like that!

9 ♥ A Whole New World - Aladdin.
i tried to avoid it. tried to hide it, but I can't. this is seriously one of my FAVOURITE love songs, from my favourite movies =) i'd marry any body with a magic carpet, hot singing voice and a killer smile, rich or not.

10 ♥ With You - Josh Groban.
best for last! even though i could've put EVERY josh groban song on this list, i attempted to be more diverse for once. i could never actually pick a favourite one of his songs, but this is my favourite one to hear on valentine's day. best lines: "And if the stars should disappear, in the dark I'll still be here, forever in your arms where I belong"

Honourable Mentions: When You Say You Love Me, For Always and Si Volvieras a Mi.

i have SO many favourite love songs, and i couldn't even finish them all on this list. what's your favourite love song? =)

-lovelovelove.